Related Experiment Videos
Hospital morbidity in the Fiji islands with special reference to the saccharine disease
Insights
Excessive carbohydrate intake may cause diseases of civilization, termed "saccharine disease." Indian populations in Fiji show higher rates of various illnesses compared to Fijians, linked to diets high in refined, fiber-depleted carbohydrates.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- The
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between carbohydrate consumption and diseases of civilization.
- To compare morbidity rates between Indian and Fijian populations in Fiji.
- To assess the validity of the "saccharine disease" concept in a diverse population.
Main Methods:
- Review of hospital morbidity data from a divisional hospital in Fiji.
- Comparative analysis of disease incidence between Indian and Fijian ethnic groups.
- Dietary pattern assessment focusing on carbohydrate consumption.
Main Results:
- Indian populations exhibited a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcer, acute appendicitis, gallstones, renal stones, and eclampsia.
- Dietary analysis revealed higher consumption of refined, fiber-depleted carbohydrates among Indians.
- Observed disease patterns in Indians are consistent with the
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that excessive intake of refined, fiber-depleted carbohydrates is associated with increased morbidity.
- The
Abstract:
The concept of the excessive consumption of carbohydrates as a cause of many diseases of civilisation has previously been proposed under the name of the 'saccharine disease'. A review of the hospital morbidity figures for these diseases in a divisional hospital in the Fiji Islands is presented. The hospital serves a population comprised of Indians and Fijians, suggesting comparison with the province of Natal, South Africa. Indians have a higher incidence of diabetes melitus, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcer, acute appendicitis, gallstones, renal stones and eclampsia. Their diets differ mainly in the higher consumption of refined fibre-depleted carbohydrates, and it is suggested that the association is compatible with the concept of the "saccharine disease".